Bluetongue

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Dovorian

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SUch a pity to hear that 2 more cases have been confirmed and that the disease has spread to Kent. Does not appear to have any impact on equestrian event at the moment however. Interesting to see that the bringer of sweetitch - genus colicoides midges are also responsible, have they been seen in greater numbers in the affected areas? News reports just seem to imply that this midge genus is' new' and is being blown over from continental Europe, I thought they were endemic here, hopefully one of the scientific forum members will know the facts!
 
no - it can't affect horses or humans but the sub-species of midge that causes bluetongue can also cause African Horse Sickness - which would be very bad news

the irony is that the vaccine needed for bluetongue is 'stuck' at the Meriel part of Pirbright - which is shut due to the FMD and Defra won't re-openj - despite the cause of the leak being the DEFRA part of Pirbright and not the Meriel part

so FMD and defra penny pinching over the years at Pirbright are having a detrimental effect on the fight to bring a vaccine into production against bluetongue for europe for next year

the probability is that the cold weather will kill off the midges for the next few months (less than 10degC means inactivity for them) but next year will be bad without a vaccine....
 
I blame defra for this whole debarkle! And now they are also refusing to compensate scottish sheep farmers saying that their loss of livestock if not Defras fault/problem!! They are skipping out on their legal and moral obligations!

I hope there is some sort of investigation into DEFRA after this si all over - if it ever is over! I really feel for everyone affected, and all DEFRA are saying is basically 'oops, my bad. swworry' and then to sweep it under the carpet!
 
Just got our local evening paper, apparently most of shropshire is now in the protection zone for blue tongue, as a result of the outbreak in Peterborough (which is miles away). And just as the F & M restrictions were being lifted, what a nightmare.
 
stupid part of the whole thing is that farm animals recover from fmd - but defra slaughters them

up to 70% mortality in sheep from bluetongue - and there is nothing that can be done to protect them until a vaccine is available

and then of course there is the expense of a vaccine when it is available. With the thousands of sheep e.g. in scotland and the near poverty existence of hill farmers will they be able to afford to vaccinate all their sheep - vaccine is a solution - but only if people can afford to vaccinate once a vaccine is available.

my bet is that joe public will believe a load of spin from vegetarian vested interests when the time comes about 'eatinf vaccinated meat' whilst they tuck into their b. matthews chicken - and this will also (hopefuly temporarily) kick the farmers even further in the bank balance.

next year I think will be bad - even worse than this one with fmd - for farming - sad
 
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